Launching device and rocket propelled missile therefor



June 7, 1960 R. KORTICK 2,939,449

LAUNCHING DEVICE AND ROCKET PROPELLED MISSILE THEREFOR Filed June 16, 1955 /6 FIG.2

? INVENTOR.

LEONARD R. KORTI CK m'romv LAUNCHING DEVICE AND ROCKET PROPELLED My present invention relates to an item of ordnance and more particularly to a readily portable launching device for a rocket propelled missile and the missile therefor.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a portable missile launching mechanism which is lightand easy to handle and silent in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a launching device and missile therefor which can readily be mounted on a rifle without interfering with the functions of the rifle. I

A further object of the present invention is to provide a light portable mechanism for propelling various types of explosives including grenades, shrapnel, anti-tank shells, flares, etc.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a launching device for a rocket propelled missile which will materially increase the effective range of the missile.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a launching device and missile therefore which is simple in construction and easy and economical to manufacture and assemble. p p a With the above and other objects and advantageou features in view, my invention consists of anovelarrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

'In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the launching device and missile of the present invention mounted on a rifle.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view thereof in partial longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44 on Fig. 2.

' Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the rocket booster mechanism.

Certain small explosives such as grenades, arenormally thrown by hand. In order to increase their range, launching devices have been devised to utilize the fire power of the rifle. In use, the soldier empties the rifle of live shells and inserts a blank. The mechanism is then attached to a barrel and the grenade put in place. When the rifle is now fired the explosion of the blank shell provides a propulsion for the grenade which gives it a wider range than by throwing. However, this method of launching has many disadvantages. When the device is in use the soldier is helpless to defend himself and cannot use the rifle either for firing or with a bayonet. Furthermore, it takes time to unload the rifle and mount the device and the noise of the blank often reveals the soldiers position to the enemy.

The present invention overcomes all of the above disadvantages by providing a launching mechanism of simple design and construction which can readily be mounted on a rifle, a shoulder mount, or even on a tripod. When mounted on a rifle it will in no way interfere with the functions of the rifle. In conjunction with the present inven- I w 2,939,149 Patented June 7, 1 960 tion the applicant provides a grenade or other missile which is rocket propelled. The launching mechanism is silent and the rocket propulsion provides an additional booster which takes over at a distance from the launching site. Thus the position of the soldier is never revealed. Furthermore, the launching mechanism and rocket booster give the weapon a range many times that of existing devices. In addition, the launching device of the present invention may be readily used to propel grenades, shrapnel, flares, and even anti-tank explosives.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the figures illustrate the launching device of the present invention mounted on a rifle for purposes of illustration. The device may be individually mounted on its own shoulder mount or may be mounted on a tripod. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the device comprises a barrel 10 which is shown mounted on a rifle 11 by means of metal straps 12 and 13 which retain the barrel 10 in spaced parallel relation above the rifle 11. It is preferable that the mounting of the barrel 10 does not interfere with the sighting or aiming of the rifle. The straps 12 and 13 are therefore formed to one side as shown in Fig. 3 giving a clear view along the top of the rifle barrel. The barrel 10 is open at the front end and turned inwardly as at 14 at the rear end to form a shoulder or stop element. A heavy coil spring 15 is positioned in the barrel 10 with its rear end resting on the shoulder 14.

The spring 15 provides the power for the initial launching of the missile. I therefore provide a means for compressing and cocking the spring and a trigger release. One method of cocking the spring is shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The forwardly positioned strap 13 is provided with an integral downwardly extending portion 16. The lever 17 is pivoted to the lower end of the portion 16 at 18. The leveris of suflicient length to extend above the barrel 10. Adjacent the barrel 10, the lever 17 is provided with a short longitudinal slot 19. The barrel 10 is provided along one side with 'an elongated longitudinal slot 20. A small cylinder 21 is positioned in the barrel 10 and engages the forward end of the spring 15. A pivot pin 22 extends through the lever 17 at the slot 19, through the slot 20 in the barrel 10 and is threadedly anchored in the cylinder 21. This permits the upper end of the lever 17 to be manually pulled rearwardly forcing the cylinder 21 and spring 15 rearwardly into compressed position.

To hold the spring 15 in cocked position, a simple trigger arrangement such as shown in Fig. 4 may be used. A small pivot post 23 extends from one side of the barrel 10 and a lever or trigger 24 is pivotally mounted thereon. The forward end is provided with a hooked portion 25 which extends through an opening 26 in the barrel 10 a sufficient distance to engage and hold the coil spring 15. The other end of the lever 24 is provided with a pin 27 which extends into a small coil spring 28 mounted in a socket 29 for resiliently retaining the lever in the position shown in Fig. 4.

With the above arrangement the lever 17 can be pulled rearwardly compressing the spring 15. The spring will be held in compressed position by the end 25 of the lever 24. When the rear end of the lever 24 is pushed inwardly against the action of the spring 28 the forward end 25 will swing outwardly and release the spring 15 While "se ame Furthermore, the trigger arand may be provided with 'a trigger guard to prevent accidental discharge. In. conjunction with-,the launch.ing mechanism above described I -have provided .a missile having a rocket booster timed to take over the propulsion of the missile in mid-air at a distance from the launcher. The combination: of the mechanical launcher and rocket booster will provide the missile with a great range."

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and S, .the missile comprises a warhead 30 mounted at the front end to a booster portion 31 which is elongated and of a narrower diameter adapted to easily slide into the .forward end of the barrel 10. The warhead may be provided With stabilizing fins 32. If desired the fins may be slightly twisted to pro- .vide the missile with a spinfor better accuracy. For this .pur'posethe fins may also be extended along the portion 31.

Referring to Fig. .5, the portion 31 is provided with an enlarged chamber 33 filled with a rocket fuel and narrowing rearwardly to a restricted passageway 34 which terminates in a dischargeable plug 35. The upper rear portion of the portion 31 is provided with a cut out slot .36 in which the timing trigger 37is mounted. The timing trigger 37 is held in the slot 36 by a shear pin 38 with its rear end resting on the pin 39 to keep it in horizontal position. The rear end of the trigger 37 is provided with an upwardly extending hook 4t} and the front end is provided with a downwardly extending hook ii. A time fuse 42 extends upwardly through the restricted passageway portion 34, through a thin wall portion 43 and into the path of the book 41. At the forward end of the barrel a ring stop 44 is mounted in the internal wall of the barrel as shown in Fig. 2.

"In use it is essential that the launching device give the missile its initial impetus and that during this flight the rocket booster take over. This should be so timed that the rocket booster goes on just before the missile reaches the apex of its are under the power of the'launching device. Therefore, as the trigger 24 is actuated to 'release the spring the missile is ejected from the barrel 1-0. As it passes outwardly the hook 40 catches the ring 44 and the pin 38 is sheared. The continuous movement of the missile brings the fuse 4-2 in contact with the hook portion 41 and the top of the fuse is sheared off. All this occurs at the time the missile leaves the barrel It The fuse is so timed that it will eat through the wall 43 and set off the rocket fuel at the predetermined interval to provide the maximum accuracy and range. The missile is therefore designed to take an initial impetus administered mechanically and then to continue at some predetermined point in its flight under the further impetus of the rocket fuel. With this type of missile the launching mechanism may be as shown and described or it may be provided with pneumatic or any other type of pressure. 7 a

The combination of applicants launcher and missile permits a silent launching of a grenade or any other explosive. When mounted on a rifle it will not interfere with the functions thereof. The device is light and easily carried either on a rifle or on its own mounting. The barrel may be of a light thin metal and need not fit snugiy or accurately with the rocket booster end or" the missile. Close tolerances are therefore not required and the device can thus be manufactured easily and cheaply.

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art.

I claim; V 1. In combination, a missile having a rocket propelling portion and a delayed action fuse for igniting the propulsion charge, and a launching device therefor, comprising spaced relation to the rifle barrel whereby said rifle may said barrel, means in said barrel for applyingan initial mechanical propulsion force to eject said missile from said barrel, and means in said barrel for setting ofi said fuse.

2. In combination, a missile having a rocket propelling portion and a delayed action fuse for igniting the propulsion charge, and a launching device therefor, comprising a barrel, means for mounting said barrel on a rifle in spaced relation to the rifle barrel whereby said rifle may be operated indepenedently of said launching device, said rocket propelling'portion extending into the front end of said barrel, means in said barrel for applying an initial mechanical propulsion force to eject said missile from said barrel, said mechanical propelling means comprising a coil spring mounted in the rear portion of said barrel, and means in said barrel for setting off said fuse.

3. In combination, a missile having a rocket propelling portion and a delayed action fuse for igniting, the propulsion charge, and a launching device therefor, comprising a barrel, means for mounting said barrel on a rifle in spaced relation to the rifle barrel whereby said rifle may be operated independently of said launching device, said rocket propelling portion extending into the front end of said barrel, means in said barrel for aplying an initial mechanical propulsion force to eject said missile from said barrel, said mechanical propelling means comprising a coil spring mounted in the rear portion of said barrel, a stop element at the rear end of said .barrel, said spring bearing against said stop element, means for compressing said spring, and trigger means for releasably retaining said spring in compressed position, and means in. said barrel for setting off said fuse.

4. In combination, a missile having arocket propelling portion and a delayed action fuse for igniting the propulsion charge, and a launching device therefor comprising abarrel, means for mounting said barrel on a riflefsaid rocket propelling portion extending into the front end of said barrel, means in said barrel for applying an initial mechanical propulsion force to eject said missile from said barrel, and means in said barrel for setting off said fuse, said fuse setting means including plyingan initial mechanical propulsion force to eject a barrehmeans for mounting said barrel on a rifle in said missile from said barrel, said mechanical propelling means comprising a coil spring mounted in the rear-portion of said barrel, and means in said barrel for setting off said fuse, said fuse setting means including a trip mechanism between said missile rocket portion and said barrel;

6. In combinatioma missile having a rocket propelling portion and a delayed action fuse for igniting the propulsion charge, and a launching device therefor comprising a barrel, means for mounting said barrel on a rifle :in spaced relation to the rifle barrel wherebysaid rifle may be operated independently of said launching Zdevice, said rocket propelling portion extending into the front .end of said barrel, means in said barrel for applying an initial mechanical propulsion force to eject wsaid missile from. said barrel, said mechanical propelling means comprising a coil spring mounted in the rear portion of said barrel, a stop element at the rear end 'of said barrel, said spring bearing against said stop element/means for compressing said spring, and trigger means forreleasably retaining said spring in compressed 'position, and means in said barrel for setting off said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Laws Nov. 28, 1876 Hoexter et al June 25, 1918 6 Hess Aug. 6, 1918 Keyser Sept. 27, 1938 Peiker Jan. 19, 1943 Skinner Aug. 14, 1951 Kessenich Dec. 18, 1951 Chandler June 22, 1954 Scott Sept. 18, 1956 

